Schrock powers Ceres past Loyola

Stephan Schrock of Ceres La Salle FC (right) avoids the defense of Loyola Meralco Sparks FC defenders during the United Football League second round match at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium in Manila. UFL MEDIA

Filipino-German standout Stephan Schrock towed Ceres La Salle FC to a 4-1 demoliton of Loyola Meralco Sparks FC on Saturday in the United Football League at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium in Manila.

Schrock, who is on an extended loan from mother club SpVgg Greuther Furth of the German Bundesliga 2, netted three goals for the Busmen as the Azkal star opened his showcase of offensive might with a goal in the eighth minute.

He followed it up with another goal in the 20th to put his club ahead, 2-0, at halftime.

National team midfielder Manny Ott also found the back of the net for Ceres La Salle seven minutes after the resumption of action in the second half to extend his clubs advantage to three goals.

The onslaught of the men from Bacolod continued throughout in the remainder of the final half as Schrock completed his hat trick off a counter-attack to stun the Loyola defense.

However, the Sparks caught one back before the end of regulation as veteran booter Simon Greatwich sank the only goal of their club in the 88th minute of the heated affair.

With the win, defending champion Ceres La Salle is now back on track in the plight to end the season at the second place that will secure them a ticket to next year’s Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup.

According to head coach Risto Vidakovic, who registered his second win at the helm of Ceres, the win was a big boost for their club’s chances of salvaging second place.

“It was crucial for us to win the game because if we lose today, our league campaign would have been done but now we still have a chance on second place,” he said after the match.

Vidakovic added that is it important to grabb victories in their remaining games this season nothing that “we have three games left and we have to give our best.”

Ceres has 11 wins, two draws and three defeats while Loyola fell to the fourth spot with 11 victories, a draw and four defeats.